Contract Negotiations Update 5/11/2026
The Faculty Collective Bargaining Team and the Edmonds College management team continue to meet weekly to negotiate changes to our contract. Read on to find out what has been agreed to, what the faculty union team is fighting for, and what we have learned about the priorities of management.
Agreements
Let’s start with what the union and management have agreed on. Management has agreed to a union proposal to make sure that associate faculty contracts are sent out by the first day of the quarter. Previously, our associate faculty would wait up to two weeks into the quarter before they had their contracts, leading to uncertainty in the number of classes they would be contracted to teach. This union proposal will give our associate faculty a more stable work environment and we are happy that management has agreed to provide those contracts at the start the quarter.
The union and management have also agreed to change any references to “diversity, equity, and inclusion” in the contract to “equity and inclusion.” Management’s original proposal was to change DEI to “care and belonging” but the union pushed back on those changes. The two negotiating teams agreed on “equity and inclusion,” which matches the title of the Faculty Senate’s Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Despite the progress being made, there are still many union proposals that management have not responded to or outright rejected. For example, management rejected a union proposal to tie Special Assignment pay to salary in a way that would make sure the Special Assignment pay keeps up with inflation. Management flatly rejected this proposal.
Management Priorities: Firing at Will and Forcing You to be Department Head
The union has recently learned more about the priorities of management through contract negotiations and some related disputes.
First, we have learned that management wants to be able to fire associate faculty without notice. We know this because of a union proposal to change Section 2.5.5 in the contract, which currently reads:
2.5.5 If Quarterly or Assurance associate faculty at Step B are not to be considered for reappointment, they shall be given written notice by their dean or designee at least thirty (30) days prior to the end of their contract. Upon request, the VPI or designee will review the decision.
The union wants to strengthen this language to increase the job protections for our associate faculty by:
- Changing the language to require notification of associate faculty not being renewed at Step B or higher
- Requiring management to rehire associate faculty unless they have just cause not to do so
These changes would improve job stability for our associate faculty and give our associate faculty more time to make adjustments should they not be rehired.
Management pushed back strongly on this proposal, making a counterproposal to eliminate Section 2.5.5 from the contract entirely. It seems apparent that Edmonds College management wants to make the livelihoods of our associate faculty even more precarious by firing our associate faculty without notice and denying them any additional job protection.
We have also learned that management wants to force faculty to be department heads against their will. Vice President of Instruction Dr. Kim Chapman has attempted to assert this right to appoint a department head without an election process with a few faculty so far, citing her reading of Section 9.3 in the contract. The union disagrees with her reading of the contract and stands on the side of faculty who choose not to take on the department head role. If Dr. Chapman wishes for department head to be a desirable position for faculty, we suggest that she make sure that deans listen to and act on feedback from department heads and also make the job less burdensome by reducing the overwhelming amount of administrative tasks that have been pushed onto our faculty’s shoulders due to budget cuts.
When We Fight, We Win!
The faculty union wants a fair contract by June. Here’s what you can do to help.
- Learn more about the current state of negotiations at the Union Table on Mondays from 9 - 11 am in the lobby of Mountlake Terrace Hall.
- Follow us on Instagram at @aft_edmondscollege!
- Send a message to Dr. Singh (amit.singh@edmonds.edu) or VPI Kim Chapman (kim.chapman@edmonds.edu) and ask them to stop stalling and move forward towards a fair contract for faculty.
If you want to join the fight, contact our VP for Action and Advocacy, Chuck Mueller, at chuck.m.mueller@gmail.com.